Road Cycling
- Thread starter FrenchTart
- Start date
Bike shopping update...
Called into Cycle Surgery coming home from a meeting in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon. Very small choice of road bikes, don't think they had anything on display over £1500. Also visited Leisure Lakes in Bury after being a few miles away for another meeting yesterday. Bit more choice with three models of Cannondale Synapse and a dedicated Specialized section but disappointing given the other brands on their website (Cube, Trek & Cervelo).
I had a Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1 on demo over the bank holiday weekend
A quick spin back from the LBS when I collected it, then 50k on Sunday on familiar roads (including my nearest Cat 4 climb) and 100k on Monday exploring a new route over The Wrekin.
List price is £2999, though a quick Google turns up prices down to £2499 (Certini). I like the colour scheme and seems a good spec for the money (full Ultegra mechanical and carbon Giant wheels which I believe are DT Swiss hubs). Handling didn't seem to be to different to my current bike, nothing twitchy. I think the ride was better, other than a bit of vibration I started to notice by the end of the longer ride. Perhaps some playing with tyre pressures would have helped but I didn't have a presta gauge (I do now!). Overall a nice bike but perhaps a little dull or just too efficient. Obviously need to ride some other bikes to see if I'm taking complete waffle or not though! It could turn out to be the best thing I ride.
I went back out on my Planet X on Tuesday night and it seemed to have a bit more "snap" about it. It also squeaks and rattles a lot more!
Hopefully off for some more test rides this weekend. Was keen on a Scott Foil Disc and Cannondale Synapse but spent lunch earlier in the week drooling over two Bianchi models online - Oltre XR3 Disc and Infinito CV Disc.
A further choice popped up today. After another customer meeting (busy week!), I popped into Brian Rourke in Stoke. Had a chat over a few options (Tarmac Disc, Scott Addictt and Whyte Wessex). Then I spotted this absolute beauty (IMO) :
I asked if I could take a photo which the staff said was fine but I've since found this better picture on the Rouke website.
Rourke 853 steel disc frame with Ultegra Di2 and customer's own wheels (possibly from JRA). One of the staff said I could have a spin on his bike as we are similar height. Could be done in budget depending on how carried away I got with the spec'. Downside is the 6 months waiting list they have - could save my pennies for Di2...
Some lovely builds on the website: http://www.rourke.biz/new/gallery.php#
Called into Cycle Surgery coming home from a meeting in Manchester on Tuesday afternoon. Very small choice of road bikes, don't think they had anything on display over £1500. Also visited Leisure Lakes in Bury after being a few miles away for another meeting yesterday. Bit more choice with three models of Cannondale Synapse and a dedicated Specialized section but disappointing given the other brands on their website (Cube, Trek & Cervelo).
I had a Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1 on demo over the bank holiday weekend
A quick spin back from the LBS when I collected it, then 50k on Sunday on familiar roads (including my nearest Cat 4 climb) and 100k on Monday exploring a new route over The Wrekin.
List price is £2999, though a quick Google turns up prices down to £2499 (Certini). I like the colour scheme and seems a good spec for the money (full Ultegra mechanical and carbon Giant wheels which I believe are DT Swiss hubs). Handling didn't seem to be to different to my current bike, nothing twitchy. I think the ride was better, other than a bit of vibration I started to notice by the end of the longer ride. Perhaps some playing with tyre pressures would have helped but I didn't have a presta gauge (I do now!). Overall a nice bike but perhaps a little dull or just too efficient. Obviously need to ride some other bikes to see if I'm taking complete waffle or not though! It could turn out to be the best thing I ride.
I went back out on my Planet X on Tuesday night and it seemed to have a bit more "snap" about it. It also squeaks and rattles a lot more!
Hopefully off for some more test rides this weekend. Was keen on a Scott Foil Disc and Cannondale Synapse but spent lunch earlier in the week drooling over two Bianchi models online - Oltre XR3 Disc and Infinito CV Disc.
A further choice popped up today. After another customer meeting (busy week!), I popped into Brian Rourke in Stoke. Had a chat over a few options (Tarmac Disc, Scott Addictt and Whyte Wessex). Then I spotted this absolute beauty (IMO) :
I asked if I could take a photo which the staff said was fine but I've since found this better picture on the Rouke website.
Rourke 853 steel disc frame with Ultegra Di2 and customer's own wheels (possibly from JRA). One of the staff said I could have a spin on his bike as we are similar height. Could be done in budget depending on how carried away I got with the spec'. Downside is the 6 months waiting list they have - could save my pennies for Di2...
Some lovely builds on the website: http://www.rourke.biz/new/gallery.php#
The Garmin Vector 1 & 2 used Exustar pedal bodies and cleats (Keo compatible) but the Vector 3 bodies are now made by Garmin themselves, yet still supplied with Exustar cleats.
That is pretty rubbish on bearings, the only option is to use theirs and have them calibrate them? When I mentioned V3 I meant Vector 3 lol
And not sure I can justify £675 for a PWM that's now 3 years old (already have one of those that cost similar!). But the S/H prices are constantly dropping hence my question. I missed out on a set in great condition that sold for £360 yesterday. I'm trying to snipe anything around that price level. Since Vector 3's arrived £400 will buy a good set of S/H P1's, some even new in box. There's also some really abused pairs out there selling for £300.
Now you've tried the Defy, it'd be worth trying the Synapse and also the Specialized Roubaix. All are very similar - endurance based, yet still quick road bikes!I had a Giant Defy Advanced Pro 1 on demo over the bank holiday weekend
The Scott Foil Disc, Scott Addict, Bianchi XR3 and Tarmac Disc are all similar 'race' bikes.
The Defy, Synapse, Roubaix and Whyte Wessex are all similar 'endurance' bikes.
The Rourke is nice, but they're very much 'steel' and you should really only be choosing to ride expensive, bespoke steel bikes for the various reasons people ride steel. It's compliant but will flex a hell of a lot more than most of the bikes listed above. It's expensive but seen as 'premium' as it's very traditional without offering any performance benefit over an off the shelf carbon/alu bike. Quite the opposite compared to the performance of some of those listed above...
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yeah I'd probably go TI over steel if you are going for something like that. TI should last forever if well made.
The trick with the Endurance bikes is they are designed to not beat you up. So you can do a 200+km ride and not feel battered. Makes them feel a bit remote or less direct than the racy stuff. Should isolate some of the bumps n hits.
The trick with the Endurance bikes is they are designed to not beat you up. So you can do a 200+km ride and not feel battered. Makes them feel a bit remote or less direct than the racy stuff. Should isolate some of the bumps n hits.
BTW, I'll admit I'm a complete nightmare with all the different bikes I've listed & looked at 
I understand the positioning of endurance v race models. I originally thought I was firmly in the endurance camp but perhaps my Planet X has me used to riding more aggressive geometry. The 185km ride I did a couple of weeks ago is my longest ever ride. With a couple of jam butties and a longer Garmin battery, I could have carried on beyond 200km, but I wasn't in tatters in when I got home. Some extra comfort on poor surfaces wouldn't go amiss, the sort of thing that manufacturers like Bianchi claim with their Countervail technology.
This weekend's test rides better help!
I understand the positioning of endurance v race models. I originally thought I was firmly in the endurance camp but perhaps my Planet X has me used to riding more aggressive geometry. The 185km ride I did a couple of weeks ago is my longest ever ride. With a couple of jam butties and a longer Garmin battery, I could have carried on beyond 200km, but I wasn't in tatters in when I got home. Some extra comfort on poor surfaces wouldn't go amiss, the sort of thing that manufacturers like Bianchi claim with their Countervail technology.
This weekend's test rides better help!
That is pretty rubbish on bearings, the only option is to use theirs and have them calibrate them? When I mentioned V3 I meant Vector 3 lol
Yeah, it would be more sensical to warranty them by hours usage. Then we would be complaining about that instead being so low
Bearing information is 'proprietary' and not readily available. Each pedal has 3 sets, 2 needle & 1 cartridge. I don't fancy taking apart a working pedal to try and save a few bob with such significant downside.
Off topic, my seat-post & saddle is now silent. Seat-tube is cleaner than a whistle
Didn't hear a peep out of it whilst I expired in the dungeon/sauna this evening due to an untimely downpour followed by 90 minutes of sunshine 
Deleted member 68110
Deleted member 68110
Nice move. Mind you, he'll beast you on the pull-ups at the top!Me on the Stratford CFC going for the double overtake
Soldato
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I only got one photo of a thing I did on Wednesday, apparently the camera messed up.
They would have had me off the front down to the turn, on the front into a headwind, off the front up the steep climb and giving it large to folk up the next rise.
Three different chain gangs in three nights for me. Tonight was rapid as the wind was behind us on the way out, I looked at the speed at one point whilst going through at 38mph(average 25mph for 22 miles), all good until on the way back taking a spell was 24mph at hellawatttzzzzzz.
They would have had me off the front down to the turn, on the front into a headwind, off the front up the steep climb and giving it large to folk up the next rise.
Three different chain gangs in three nights for me. Tonight was rapid as the wind was behind us on the way out, I looked at the speed at one point whilst going through at 38mph(average 25mph for 22 miles), all good until on the way back taking a spell was 24mph at hellawatttzzzzzz.
Soldato
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SDK^ my what fuzzy legs!
BTW, I'll admit I'm a complete nightmare with all the different bikes I've listed & looked at
I understand the positioning of endurance v race models. I originally thought I was firmly in the endurance camp but perhaps my Planet X has me used to riding more aggressive geometry. The 185km ride I did a couple of weeks ago is my longest ever ride. With a couple of jam butties and a longer Garmin battery, I could have carried on beyond 200km, but I wasn't in tatters in when I got home. Some extra comfort on poor surfaces wouldn't go amiss, the sort of thing that manufacturers like Bianchi claim with their Countervail technology.
This weekend's test rides better help!
Hah it's all part of the fun, might as well try as much stuff as you can before buying something.
I've been making my Synapse and Mason more extreme in setup over the last few months. The Mason is down to a 10mm spacer and the Synapse is basically slammed with the default huge 30mm spacer removed. It hasn't really affected comfort or anything and I've done some pretty big rides recently. Might as well go as racy as you can while you can.
Me on the Stratford CFC going for the double overtake
Nice shot! That geezer must have been roasting in the long sleeve!
Soldato
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Question about power meters don't solely directed at you Dan but why do you have them? I'm struggling to understand - I'm looking for an excuse so I can justify buying one
Soldato
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More consistent than HR and not affected by caffeine, hydration, fatigue etc...
It's an absolute measure of the one metric that matters.
It's an absolute measure of the one metric that matters.
^This is probably 90% of the reason I ordered my Vectors (which still haven't turned up yet ffs...)
Did a very rapid 80km club ride tonight. Only 700m of climbing but I'll certainly feel that in my legs tomorrow
Me on the Stratford CFC going for the double overtake
All that aero ruined by your rider number
Soldato
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Question about power meters don't solely directed at you Dan but why do you have them? I'm struggling to understand - I'm looking for an excuse so I can justify buying one
It gives you a more meaningful measure of your pedalling effort in real-time, unlike heart rate that is slightly delayed and can be affected by a whole range of other factors, plus you you could set a new Strava segment PB in terms of power despite a horror headwind slowing your speed.
